Chapter 99:
August 28
After finishing everything in the orchard, packing the plants to bring to Budō Town, and loading up a variety of energy blocks, Hayashi Kaede looked to Gardevoir.
Since Gardevoir was willing to go, Pigeot would have to stay behind to watch the orchard.
He always felt uneasy leaving the orchard without at least one capable Pokémon guarding it.
"Gardevoir—"
Gardevoir rested a hand on Kaede's shoulder; in the next instant it shimmered away.
Behind him, a "Pigeotto" cloaked itself and also vanished.
···
Grapevine Town.
Unlike the sparsely populated Aogiri Town, Budō Town buzzed with life; there were thousands of households here. Where populations concentrate, industries supporting Pokémon — hospitals, nurseries, gyms — flourish. But Budō Town's pride was wine: on the western slopes of the town there was a huge orchard, and at this time of year the whole town smelled of fruit. The orchard's owner hosted an actual defend-the-post style competition, and the festival drew folks from all over.
The defending window ran from 2:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., two hours total. The rule was simple: whoever stayed on the platform the longest won. Up to three Pokémon could be used to defend or challenge; there were three arenas, and the prizes were generous—the winner got a tenth of that orchard's grape harvest revenue. The orchard spanned two hills and more than a hundred acres; the prize money always ran into seven figures. No wonder the event brought trainers flocking.
As Kaede listened to Rotom describing Budō Town, he felt inspired.
"Twenty years ago this place was only about a hundred households. Now look — a real town. Shows you: build a gym, run contests, and the strong trainers will come…" he mused.
He was carrying a small, white fox in his arms, snooping its head out curiously as they approached. Gardevoir — pale dress and blue hair — drew attention wherever it drifted.
"Shiny Gardevoir? I've only seen one online…" people whispered.
"Look how young the trainer is. Makes me jealous…"
"Don't remind me. I hatched a male Ralts and couldn't get a Gardevoir… had to evolve it into Gallade."
"Not just the Gardevoir — look at that Vulpix! An Alolan Vulpix… I want to pet it so badly…"
Alolan Vulpix's little nose twitched; it didn't feel shy in the crowd. When it saw some candied fruit on a stall, it drooled and begged Kaede for some.
Kaede took a bite and shrugged. "I'll make you a better one when we get back." Street snacks won't beat what he cooks at home.
"Let's go — to the grape orchard," he said.
Gardevoir placed a hand on him and blinked; the world around them shifted. They stood on a clearing atop the hill. Stalls ringed the area, each displaying fruits or seedlings. Orchard owners were setting up, pulling things from their storage spheres and preparing to sell. Most growers specialize in one kind of fruit and showcase it here.
At the center was the biggest stall, shaded by a grass awning. Barrels gave off rich wine aromas. Nearby a slim woman in a straw hat, about fifty or so, was greeting other orchard owners energetically. A wooden sign read "Wineberry Wine." Beyond, the grape vines still held a lot of berry even after some harvests.
Kaede walked up to the woman. "Hello."
"Oh?" the woman said. She'd already noticed them; it wasn't every day a young trainer with a shiny Gardevoir and an Alolan Vulpix showed up. At first she assumed he was a challenger. When Kaede explained, she brightened.
"You must be Inoue Shūko," Kaede said. "I'm from Aogiri Town's orchard — I got your letter."
Inoue Shūko blinked in surprise. She looked Kaede over, then at Gardevoir and the Alolan Vulpix. A vineyard manager with those Pokémon? It was unusual — orchard owners typically kept Grass- or Ground-types to help with planting and tilling — but then her expression softened with recognition.
"Aogiri… that name rings a bell. You want some Combee, right? Do you have the flowers?" she asked.
Kaede nodded and produced the flowers from his storage sphere. Inoue Shūko inspected one bloom and smiled.
"These are good—no need to second-guess. They'll please the Combee. At noon I'll take you to the hives. In the meantime, pick a spot and set up a stall to promote your orchard."